Rents across the city may be climbing, but that’s not keeping college students from wanting to flex their newfound autonomy even further by leaving their dorm for digs off campus. Unfortunately for many of these young scholars—and many first-time renters like them—searches typically start off with head-in-the-clouds expectations (“I had this fantasy about scoring a place with a fireplace and rooftop deck,” says one student with a $1000 budget), which are quickly brought back down to reality when they realize just how unforgiving the NYC rental market is. Ahead, CityRealty goes over what students and new renters need to know when searching for an apartment, as well as how to maximize time and money in a fast-moving and ultra-competitive market.